Thinking about a tattoo, but is it what good girls did in the 1940's?

To answer the original question whether women in the 1940s had tattoos - no, "nice" women and men did not have tattoos. Even as late as the 1970s when I was growing up, "decent" people didn't get tattoos, only bikers, sailors, and women of "ill repute", shall we say, had them. I would never get one, nor would I ever encourage anyone else to get one because, frankly, I think they look trashy. I don't mean to offend anyone, perhaps it's because of the era I was raised in, but I just don't get why anyone would want to mark up their body like this. I regularly watch The Voice and I think Adam Levine is a very handsome man, but when he's wearing a short sleeve shirt that shows all those tattoos, it just really takes away from his looks to me. Guess I'm an old fashioned girl.

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Well, plenty of "nice" and "decent" ladies and gentlemen do these days. Don't judge a book by its cover. I think what helps many people who don't "get" tattoos is to simply think of them as modern pieces of art. Granted I don't believe every tattoo can be considered artistic, but I believe the people who frequent the fedora lounge have a specific, special aesthetic and they know how to find a tattoo that is not only one of a kind, but also eclectic and well crafted.

Here author, while describing Juanita Carberry mentions 'In 1946, Carberry became one of a handful of women to join the merchant navy, remaining for 17 years. It was during this period, (...), that she started acquiring tattoos.' I wish I looked as good as she does in this picture, when I'm her age.

Oooh, I've been bitten by the tattoo bug again. I'm hankering for a lovely piece incorporating sewing items (an old singer, thimble, scattered pins and thread) to reflect my profession as Costumier. Boo, if only I could get over my wish for an authentic aesthetic.

Oooh, I've been bitten by the tattoo bug again. I'm hankering for a lovely piece incorporating sewing items (an old singer, thimble, scattered pins and thread) to reflect my profession as Costumier. Boo, if only I could get over my wish for an authentic aesthetic.

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Hate to encourage, but I have 9 or 10 tattoos, only two can be seen if I am wearing a skirt or dress You have me thinking and planning my next tattoo now though....possibly incorpirating my first sewing machine (1921 singer)......the cogs are a turning in my brain now

Hate to encourage, but I have 9 or 10 tattoos, only two can be seen if I am wearing a skirt or dress You have me thinking and planning my next tattoo now though....possibly incorpirating my first sewing machine (1921 singer)......the cogs are a turning in my brain now

But I know myself well enough to know I'm not only indecisive but my tastes are always evolving and the odds of me wanting the same tattoo down the road are about zilch. I'll stick to admiring others' tattoos. ^_^

Edit: Oh sorry, I didn't realize that photo was so big, I'm not sure how to resize, since it seems photos can only be linked to?

This thread has been around for a while. Did women back then go on internet forums and talk about half-moon manicures and pincurls? No ... and here we are. Does it really matter if it's something women did then? Probably not. But the fact you are asking this question makes me believe you are on the fence. And if that's the case, don't do it. Get a piercing instead. Do something that is less permanent. As far as tattoos are concerned (and I have absolutely nothing against them), they should not be done or be not-done (?) based on others' opinions. You will do what you will, but if you need to ask around, you are probably not a good candidate.

This thread has been around for a while. Did women back then go on internet forums and talk about half-moon manicures and pincurls? No ... and here we are. Does it really matter if it's something women did then? Probably not. But the fact you are asking this question makes me believe you are on the fence. And if that's the case, don't do it. Get a piercing instead. Do something that is less permanent. As far as tattoos are concerned (and I have absolutely nothing against them), they should not be done or be not-done (?) based on others' opinions. You will do what you will, but if you need to ask around, you are probably not a good candidate.

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Yes to all of this. It's those fence-sitters that go and get crappy flash done and then loudly regret the tattoo a few years down the road -- and these are EXACTLY the people who make those of us dedicated to getting good body art and love each and every one of our tattoos LOOK BAD! I have quite a few. The only ones I don't care for are two on my back I got in my early 20s. The rest I got after age 31, all by the same artist, all the same style, and all the same theme. I plan each tattoo, what it will be, and where it will go. I'm serious about it.

I plan each tattoo, what it will be, and where it will go. I'm serious about it.

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Can't agree more. All my tattoos apart from one was planned in great detail and then left to sit in the brain for 6months to a year. Mull it over, twiddle with the design, think some more.
The ones that I didnt plan so well arent my favourite. But they remind me that not everything needs to be rushed into! Sort of a foolish reminder lol. They are bows on my hips, one either side, in that pant line area, so they will never be seen even in swimwear (or they could be if I ever got the courage to be that brief with my swimwear lol) - only manshape and I know they are there. But then I would never complain as it was my own fault.

The two I'm not crazy about are on my back and I pretty much forget about them lol I have Louise Brooks on my shoulder and self-drawn tramp stamp of my initial with mudflap girls. The tramp stamp wouldn't be bad if my current artist fixed it up. Buttttt......I'm too busy getting new ones I can see!

Whoo, that was a lot of reading to catch up! Someone mentioned (very early on in the thread, sorry for rehashing!) wanting to get stocking seams inked if you could get rid of them and I had a thought, actually --- there's a method of tattooing eyebrows that fades, isn't there? I think I've heard that the needle doesn't deposit the ink far enough into the skin to make it permanent (I could be very wrong) and it made me wonder if any tattoo artist who's done eyebrows would consider doing the same sort of semi-permanent inking on stocking seams? Being a big girl (very big , it's a pain to find seamed stockings in my size and this kind of thing with a very subtle seam under modern pantyhose might be just the thing.

And another tattooed lady from that era, but it would really be hard to call her an average girl next door (something to do with being filthy rich, owning an island, sleeping with Marlena Dietrich ad racing speedboats ;-) )
Joe Carstairs - more about her life here

And another tattooed lady from that era, but it would really be hard to call her an average girl next door (something to do with being filthy rich, owning an island, sleeping with Marlena Dietrich ad racing speedboats ;-) )
Joe Carstairs - more about her life here